. >> earlier today on the senate floor, a couple of updates on where things stand on the fiscal cliff. he says, but the house rules committee will do at 8:00 is always derided as "martial law." he is talking about the news released by the rules committee that they will meet this evening at 8:00 p.m.. we will try to update the story for you. one at a house republican, settling in for a delicious pizza dinner and to talk about something not involving a fiscal clift deal. and from nbc -- one rep will be "real crabby" if congress is here on wednesday -- he has rose bowl tickets. you can follow this at our fiscal cliff page at c- span.org/ficalcliff. joe manchin introduced a new bill that he said it would soften the impact of going over the fiscal cliff. he calls it deep cliff alleviation at the last minute -- he says he is not happy to write it. here is what he said at the floor. >> thank you. i will first of all thank both of my colleagues for the diligent work -- they have committed themselves to this work and i appreciate it. mr. president, i rise today frustrated, embarrassed, and ang